In a previous post I wrote about GWS coming home to Canberra through a remarkable link with Tom Wills.

Hosting the MOU signatures in the NATSEM Building adds another dimension to the GWS-UC relationship.

The NATSEM International Microsimulation Centre is the second project completed under the Commonwealth Government’s Education Investment Fund, with the $11m building coming in on-time and on-budget. The design of the building is a completely new concept for the University, offering flexible and sustainable multipurpose spaces to house NATSEM as well as a venue with full conferencing facilities.

The project was awarded the first ever “5-star Green Star Education Building in the ACT”. Its features include a Photo Voltaic System (or solar panels), on the roof to collect and generate electricity (resulting in a predicted net reduction of greenhouse gases by 62% compared to a standard practice benchmark) as well as underground rainwater tanks to store collected water that will be used for landscape irrigation and toilet flushing. There is also a seasonal pond which will result in biodiversity and water quality benefits to the site.

The University aims to build its links with GWS through a commitment to the club’s organic development. This approach resonates completely with the University’s ecological commitment to the Canberra and Capital Region. It resonates too with both partners’ commitments to community development.

After years of false starts and short term playing deals with cash strapped Melbourne based AFL teams, supporters of AFL in Canberra and the region have been offered a partnership that will benefit the game at all levels.

This partnership will enrich the AFL community of the ACT and Southern NSW region, grow participation numbers and assist AFL to compete more effectively with the other professional football codes (League, Union and Soccer).

The aim of ACT 4 GWS is to secure 5000 $50 pledges as well as significant local and regional corporate support.

In return:

GWS will play up to 40 games in Canberra over the next 10 years

AFL in Canberra and the region will have a seat on the GWS board

GWS will continue to invest in local talent academies

GWS will establish a training base in Canberra and the region

GWS will conduct community camps in the region

GWS will field a team in the AFL Canberra competition or in a second tier AFL competition that will feature Canberra clubs.

The opportunity for the AFL community of ACT and Southern NSW to join GWS has been described as the game’s best and last chance to establish a meaningful presence in the region.

This is our opportunity to become a significant part of our national game. It’s our time. Let’s secure our national game for our national capital region.

The introduction of an AFL team into western Sydney is regarded by some as an invasion. But Tom Wills might disagree. In fact one could say that, when the new AFL team takes root in western Sydney and Israel Folau kicks his first goal, the game of Australian Rules football – our great and unique contribution to world sporting culture – will simply return to the family “home” of the man who started it all.

It was interesting to read that “Wills was born in 1835, near the township of Queanbeyan in NSW.” So the GWS/UC link has a double homecoming to celebrate.

Greg de Moore’s biography of Tom Wills (2008) provides a fascinating insight into the codification of football. Previously Eric Dunning had discussed in detail the development of football in nineteenth century England and provides a context for understand Tom Wills’ experience at Rugby School. J A Mangan’s study of Athleticism adds to the knowledge of the environment in which Tom Wills went to school.

As I attend the signing ceremony for the memorandum of understanding I will be thinking about Tom Wills and the role that biography plays in developing sport. I think Kevin Sheedy, the foundation coach of the GWS team and Tom Wills would have had a lot to share and discuss about their lives in sport and their visions.

It is great to think that the National Institute of Sport Studies can be part of this journey in Ngunnawal Country.

Until Portugal’s 7-0 victory over Korea DPR found it relatively difficult to score at sea level. The first three 0-0 games in the tournament were at sea level. The fourth 0-0 draw (game 42) was played at Polokwane and the sixth (game 48) at Mangaung Bloemfontain .